A total of 9,721 candidates obtained excellent results (Grade A+, A, A-) in all subjects in the 2015 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, but the overall number fell by 0.25% from 11,289 candidates in 2014.

Education director-general Datuk Seri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said the index used to indicate the performance of candidates, the national average grade (GPN), saw a drop for 2015 by 0.07 to 5.15 compared with 5.08 in 2014.

A note on national average grade (GPN):

The lower GPN indicates better performance.

“The smaller number of candidates who obtained excellent results in all subjects and the drop in GPN is not a significant shortcoming. It is within the permitted range of 3%,” he said at a press conference announcing the analysis of the 2015 SPM results, here, Wednesday.

“It also reflects the fluctuations in student performance. The drop is also indicative of the smaller number of candidates who sat for the 2015 SPM, at 440,682 compared with 455,839 candidates in 2014,” he said.